Southend have booked their place in the Southern area semi-finals of the Football League Trophy courtesy of a 1-0 victory over League Two side Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall this evening.
The hosts, who have reached the final of the competition on three occasions but never lifted the trophy, took another small step towards ending their hoodoo after 12 minutes when John White nodded them into an early lead.
The Shrimpers skipper rose highest inside the area to meet Kevan Hurst's cross before planting his header into the corner for his first goal at Roots Hall - and one that proved to be the winner.
Hurst himself came close to adding to the lead before Rovers had their first real chance of the night, which Billy Bodin put into the side-netting at the back post.
Rovers continued to carry a threat and Matt Taylor lashed one effort wide before the visitors had the ball in the back of the net, although Bodin's 41st-minute strike was ruled out for offside.
While it was the linesman's flag that denied the Pirates at the end of the first half, Southend had Daniel Bentley to thank for keeping their lead intact in the second as the keeper made a string of fine saves.
Lee Brown and Jermaine Easter were both thwarted in quick succession 10 minutes after the restart, while the latter was again frustrated by the shot-stopper just past the hour mark.
Rovers should have forced penalties in the dying stages of the game when a ball into the box found Mark McChrystal at the front post, but the Northern Irishman somehow skewed his shot wide of the target.
Southend nerves were not eased by five minutes of added time being given amid heavy pressure from the visitors, but Phil Brown's side hung on to seal their place in the next round.
Barney Corkhill
